Funding has been secured by Merseyside’s Police Commissioner to improve safety and protect women and girls in three areas blighted by crime and anti-social behaviour.
The Police and Crime Commissioner’s successful bid into the fifth round of the Government’s Safer Streets Fund will see a total of £912,766 awarded to three projects across Merseyside aimed at reducing crime in key areas .
In Liverpool, a cash investment of £445,433 will be used to target areas in Kensington and Fairfield that are disproportionately and persistently impacted by criminal and anti-social behaviour, as well as being a hotspot for sex work and sexual violence.
The intervention work will be focused on protecting residents by tackling public disorder incidents, such as kerb-crawling, to reduce the impact that sex work and drug use is having on residents, while also seeking to reduce crimes against sex workers.
The funding will also enhance the work already planned by Liverpool City Council to improve street lighting in the area, as well as supporting partners to continue the work with charities to support the vulnerable, with a focus on cleaning up litter and drugs paraphernalia from alley ways.
Today’s announcement brings the total funding secured by the Police Commissioner from the Safer Streets Fund to almost £4m.
Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Communities at Liverpool City Council said: “This successful bid for funding is to be welcomed and will make a real difference to residents of Kensington and Fairfield who are affected by crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Working with our partners, we are determined to improve life in our communities and tackle the issues that blight the lives of local people. This latest tranche of money builds upon previous work to improve safety on public transport and in the night time economy.”
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “I’m really pleased that this successful bid means we can invest in these projects focused on preventing crime and improving safety in three key locations.
“I’ve seen for myself the challenges facing residents and the misery caused by crime and anti-social behaviour in these areas and this major cash boost has the power to make a real difference.
“Through Safer Streets, we’ve already delivered a lot of work to improve the safety of women and girls, particularly at night, and I’m pleased we can continue this work with funding focused on ensuring the safety of women who visit St Helens town centre for a night out.
“In Liverpool, the area around Sheil Road has long been plagued by issue. By targeting those who seek to exploit sex workers, our aim is to reduce incidents of violence against women and girls, while improving the feelings of safety and quality of life for all those who live, work and visit the area.”
